August 2014
1,400 images of child abuse images held by ‘family man’
A FAMILY man has pleaded guilty to downloading more than 1,400 images of child abuse.
Anthony Allison, 50, of Farm Road, Warlingham, pleaded guilty to six counts of making images of child porn, ranging from more than 800 level A images (those involving penetration, animals or sadism) to more than 130 level C images (any sexual images of children).
Allison’s hearing at Guildford Crown Court on Friday started later than planned, and defence counsel Sarah Lindop told the court she had to explain to Allison that downloading the images, which included films, led to a charge of making them.
The court heard how Allison, a “family man” of previous good character, had progressed from viewing adult pornography online to viewing child abuse images.
Ms Lindop told the court: “I have told Mr Allison that by double-clicking and downloading the images, he is making the image. It is quite difficult for members of the public to understand.”
She added: “There is no dispute that he downloaded [the images]. There is some dispute about whether he viewed them all in terms of the full cycle of viewing.”
Ms Lindop told the court there was “significant mitigation” in the case, claiming Allison had sometimes downloaded an image without first checking the title. She asked for a non-custodial sentence to be considered.
She added: “It is not uncommon for people to progress in this fashion [from viewing images of adults to viewing images of children].”
But Recorder Peter Crabtree warned Allison he was facing a possible jail term when he returns to the court for sentencing.
He said: “The titles of the movies that were downloaded indicate a range of young, teenage and pre-pubescent children as young as two, three or four, and children being abused in the highest possible category.
“There are significant aggravating factors.”
Mr Crabtree told Allison that by downloading the images he was involved in a cycle which destroyed the lives of children forced to be involved.
He added: “You have pleaded guilty to an extremely serious offence, the images include moving images and a large number at the highest level involving some very young children.”
Allison was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register.
He has been released on unconditional bail to appear at Guildford Crown Court for sentencing on August 29.
